"Do you know Renly?"
Just an ordinary question, yet it immediately backed Chris into a corner, leaving him with no way out. His emotions were as tangled as a ball of yarn, and he couldn't find the thread to unravel it. It was a terrible situation.
He had completely forgotten about this – he had forgotten! Before this moment, whether in public or private, he had never mentioned his relationship with Renly, and he didn't want to bring it up.
Because in the past six months, Renly had been so dazzling, so brilliant, and so radiant, like the dazzling sun. His brilliance was blinding, and it seemed that everyone was praising him. From Toronto to Sundance, from the Golden Globes to the Oscars, from "Buried" to "Like Crazy", step by step, he had climbed to an unimaginable height. An Oscar nomination for Best Actor – something countless people pursued tirelessly throughout their lives – he had achieved it!
Chris didn't want to be overshadowed. So, he refused to mention Renly, refused to let people know that he had been Renly's roommate, and even denied that he had ever lived in New York. It was like a scar that had bled and festered but had finally scabbed over, and he never wanted to bring it up again.
Even more absurd was the fact that Renly had missed the Oscars.
Some people sought it incessantly, while others rejected it with disdain. This reminded Chris of "Thor". Everything felt so familiar. That self-righteous, arrogant demeanor hadn't changed a bit, making him grit his teeth.
Now, in his panic, Chris had exposed his wound and revealed a secret. The shame that had erupted in that moment almost overshadowed his anger, gnawing at his heart and bones. Damn Renly. But Chris was no longer the rookie he had been a year ago. Under Morgan Fisher's guidance, he understood how crucial a good public image was.
Brad Pitt, that was the development template Morgan had chosen for him.
"Haha, we were roommates for a while," Chris tried to remain calm, attempting to unveil this secret in a half-joking manner, as if he didn't care. But the surging emotions made his voice tense, and his expression seemed unnatural. The effect he presented was less than satisfactory.
Elliot and Joey exchanged glances again. Both had a glimmer of excitement in their eyes. Renly, the most acclaimed figure of the past six months, and Chris, who was about to unveil the summer blockbuster. They had been roommates? A simple mental image hinted at countless stories waiting to be unearthed. Moreover, Chris's attitude just now...
"So, Renly did receive an invitation for "Thor"?" Elliot couldn't wait to inquire. He wasn't Santa Claus bringing goodwill; he wouldn't give Chris a breather.
"Yes, he did," Chris tried to drag out his tone, buying himself more time to think, but the shame and anger in his mind continued to simmer like boiling water, making it impossible for him to calm down and think. "He received the invitation initially, but he wasn't interested in the role. He didn't even attend the audition." Chris added hurriedly, "So, I don't know how the rumor started. Once Renly hears about it, he'll definitely be amused."
After saying this, Chris chuckled twice, trying to lighten the atmosphere, but the effect seemed rather mediocre.
Joey followed up with a question, "So, after Renly declined the invitation, did he recommend you to Kenneth?"
"No!" Chris's response was emphatic and intense, his eyes widened, and a fierce light glowed within them. You could even discern the anger between his eyebrows, burning fiercely. "I succeeded entirely on my own merits! My own merits!"
Such a vehement reply caught Joey off guard. He had only spoken casually.
For one, it was widely known that Kenneth had a love for Shakespearean drama, so if Renly had auditioned, Kenneth would have likely favored him. Second, since Renly and Chris were roommates, it was only natural to assume that they would have discussed matters, especially when Renly wasn't interested.
But he hadn't expected Chris's response to be so extreme, making it all the more intriguing.
"I mean, we rarely talk about work. As for the audition for "Thor", Renly and I never discussed it. Besides, Renly hasn't even met Kenneth, so there was no chance to bring it up," Chris said, trying to ease the earlier intensity with a half-joking tone. But it was clear that he couldn't control whether others believed him.
"Chris, "Thor" is about to be released in the second week of May, and "Fast 5", in which Renly appears, is also scheduled for the same period, likely in the first week of May if I'm not mistaken. Have you and Renly discussed this?" Elliot astutely seized the moment, decisively abandoning the previous topic and casting out another bait.
At this moment, Elliot, sharp-minded, with a keen sense of smell and quick reactions, was truly impressive. Joey, who was standing by, immediately understood Elliot's intent. Inwardly, he gave Elliot a thumbs-up, but his gaze remained fixed on Chris, waiting for the big revelation.
"Uh, no," Chris hesitated slightly, still sounding somewhat awkward. When nervous, he sometimes tripped over his words, and his Australian accent emerged again. He was contemplating whether he should answer "yes" or "no", which answer was correct. However, time was running out, and he couldn't think deeply. He could only follow his initial instinct, saying, "We don't really discuss work. We leave work at the office, don't we?"
Chris shrugged, flashing his iconic sunny smile, attempting to showcase his charm to gain a momentary breathing space.
But evidently, Elliot had no intention of allowing that. He continued relentlessly, "So, you haven't discussed the competition this time? With two films releasing one after the other, there's bound to be a fiery clash. Who do you think will come out on top?"
Chris parted his lips, prepared to respond, but once again, he couldn't find an opening. He managed to produce a syllable before Joey interrupted, "Relatively speaking, "Thor" is just the opening installment of a series, and the entire crew is under significant pressure due to high expectations. As a newcomer, before "Thor", the audience's knowledge of you was limited. So, do you have enough confidence in the box office?"
"Of course!" Chris answered without hesitation.
"Do you have confidence in defeating Renly?" Elliot seized the opportunity to needle him.
"Of course!" Impulsiveness was the devil, and after reason had been destroyed, his response burst forth uncontrollably, with the blazing anger almost consuming his sanity.
That damn Renly! The "Fast & Furious" series didn't even belong on the same stage. The first three films were nothing but B-movies, with average box office earnings, mediocre reviews, and ordinary profits. If Universal Pictures weren't so terrible at making sequels and had switched to another company, this series would have ended after the second installment.
Such works were in a different league from "Thor", and there was no comparison between the two! Even Universal Pictures themselves recognized this.
"Fast 5" had chosen to release in the last week of April and the first week of May. April 29th this year was a Friday, which meant they had opted for the tail end of the spring season, avoiding the heavily competitive summer season, hoping to accumulate more box office revenue in a weaker competition environment.
And what about "Thor"? As the opening film of the summer season in 2011, it had momentum and a massive campaign by Paramount Pictures since December of the previous year. They had even purchased halftime show advertising during the Super Bowl to build excitement around the movie.
Undoubtedly, it was the most advantageous spearhead this year. Major film companies were all trying to avoid its edge, with Disney even rescheduling "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" to release in the fourth week of May, leaving a relatively weak gap in the third week. The reason was apparent: the industry believed that "Thor" winning two times in a row was a foregone conclusion, and no one wanted to directly confront such a formidable opponent.
Could "Thor" easily defeat "Fast 5"? Wasn't this an already established fact?
Elliot's eyes flashed with wild joy. He had succeeded! If every artist cooperated like this, he could buy a house in Burbank this year. But Elliot didn't relax. He continued pressing, "So, do you believe "Thor" can easily defeat "Fast 5"?"
Chris tried to catch his breath, but Elliot didn't give him a chance. The raging flames in his chest continued to burn, consuming all reason. Before he could come to his senses, he blurted out his answer for the third time, "Of course!"
After saying that, Chris finally realized something was amiss. He tried to explain, but his mind went blank, unable to think clearly. He opened his mouth but couldn't produce a sound. All he could do was force a smile to conceal the tense atmosphere.
"Very good. It's great to see you so confident," Elliot said with a cheerful smile, then turned and left. He just walked away. Joey followed suit.
The situation had changed too quickly. In the blink of an eye, Chris was left alone, watching the two paparazzi walk away, their footsteps gradually fading.
A gust of sea breeze blew by, and after his sweat had dried, Chris couldn't help but shiver. It was only then that he realized: What had just happened? What was it all about? Where did the first question from the paparazzi come from? What was wrong with the subsequent questions? What on earth had transpired?
It had to be Renly. Malicious publicity! That was definitely it!